Bury Army Cadets Exchange Camouflage for Pink for a Weekend

Cadets and staff from Number One (Minden) Company, GMACF gave up a weekend recently to support Cancer Research UK run the annual Pretty Mudder and Race for Life events in Heaton Park, Prestwich. This annual event raises hundreds of thousands of pounds to help in cancer research.

Day One started at 8 am with Cadets travelling to Heaton Park to be briefed on the Pretty Mudder Event. As the morning went on, the day became hotter and hotter and more and more participants arrived in various shades of pink.

For those taking part in the event it started with a gentle warm up. The Cadets showed off their abilities in dance warm up sessions throughout the day, assisted by an instructor on the main stage.

For the ladies taking part, the route comprised a 5 Km route going over, under and through various obstacles, those obstacles involving lots and lots of mud added by water, kindly topped up by the Cadets, who took the opportunity to practice their shooting skills, not with their usual rifles, but with large powerful water pistols. They filled the pistol with nice cold water, taking aim and firing a long stream of water at their victims, which resulted in some loud shrieks from those taking part.

At the end of the race the final straight to the finish was lined by the Cadets, giving loads of encouragement for the muddy and tired participants. Race completed, success was rewarded by a medal and a nice bottle of water handed out by the Cadets.

Once the last of the participants had gone through the course the Cadets took the opportunity to show their own love of mud and do the course. Not making any attempt to keep their uniforms clean.

After a long day, with numerous medals and bottles of water handed out the they headed off home, for many to return on Sunday.

Sunday saw them return for another hot day in the sun. Uniforms now all clean and smart after the previous day in the mud – parents – how do you do that?

A gentler day saw several thousand ladies, children and even dogs arriving to run, jog and walk the two 5km and 10km events around the grounds of Heaton Park, each with their own personal stories and reasons for attending on T-shirts and cards carried on their backs.

Once again, Cadets displayed their dancing skills to assist in the warm-up, whilst others fired streamer cannons over the participants announcing the race was about to start. Guided by a line of cadets the thousands of runners were led to the start line and on the sound of the air horn, they were off.

On the successful completion of the course cadets welcomed the runners with a high fives, a medal and bottle of cooling water to drink. Even the dogs got their very own medals for completing the run.

The day was complete, thousands of bottles of water and medals handed out and a successful weekend was over with £450,000 raised for a very important cause.

Cadets returned home for a well-earned rest and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet